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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Lennox the dog death sentence is a complete farce -- Neither rhyme nor reason to the Lord Chief Justice’s decision

Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 08:41 AM
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Brooke and Caroline Barnes with pic of Lennox

So Lennox the Belfast dog will be executed the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland has ruled.
More like the Lord High Executioner from a Gilbert and Sullivan farce.

Lennox will essentially be killed for looking like a pit bull not actually acting like one. By all accounts Lennox was a pretty ordinary dog owned by the Barnes family.

He even served as a comfort for a special needs kid the Barnes have,

But Lennox fell foul of a new law that pit bulls are no longer allowed in Northern Ireland because they are violent.

But Lennox may not even be a pit bull as his breed has never been properly determined.

Either way it didn’t matter-- the poor mutt was measured and pronounced a pit bull.

Lennox will not be executed for what he did but rather for what he resembles.

It is like saying every Catholic in Northern Ireland should be jailed because some in the ast were violent.

The scarlet letter was placed on his forehead, the execution order upoheld now by three different courts.
He has been confined for two years away from his family while the court system creaked and clattered and finally delivered its absurd verdict.

Kafka couldn’t wrote this script-- guilty for being a pitt-bull lookalike.

So now Lennox will be executed, a family left bereft and a world left scratching is head.

This is Orwellian to say the least -- a terrible disgrace that defies description.

Who or what will they be coming for next?

As Gilbert and Sullivan wrote in the Mikado: “Defer, Defer to the Lord High Executioner.”


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26 comments

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Yerffac | Jul 16, 2012, 11:21 AM EDT
"It's a flipping dog we're talking about here, they don't have human rights." writes "curitiby" The he goes on to berate the English for their love of animals. Whether a country is civilized can be measured by the way it treats its animals and Ireland (not just Northern Ireland, it's worse in the south) still falls short of that. Drowning new born kittens and puppies instead on having the animals neutered,is accepted, thousand of starving dogs dogs and roam the countryside--people shrug and say "aaah there are thousands like that, they're just animals" and look the other way. Shelters are overflowing and most of the animals there are euthanizes. Shameful. And don't dump my comment as you did yesterday.

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Kilsally | Jul 10, 2012, 02:31 PM EDT
Glad to see DUP First Minister Peter Robinson and the DUP Lord Mayor of Belfast trying to get the alternative option implemented but may not be enough for the legalists in Belfast City council now it has been to court.

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Claudiah Chris | Jul 01, 2012, 11:02 PM EDT
Cruel is to kill this animal for nothing. Do not kill Lennox. Have mercyyyyyyy!

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Claudiah Chris | Jul 01, 2012, 10:52 PM EDT
About the dog Lennox That law is too severe. Authorities from there have forgotten that a dog or any animal are God criation? The authorities do not respect God? The authorities are completely out of commpassion,mercy? Poor Lennox family living that tragedy... Poor dog, who does not have the right for living. Every one wants to live!!! Even the dogs! Please, have mercy and do not execute Lennox. If he is not agressive, why take hisa life away, even because he got a family!!!!! Why people in the other parts of theb world are so cold? I thank God to be Brazilian and for respecting the life of others. I respect dog above all, inclusevely, I love any kind of animal and I have adopted 31 dogs. Well, If I could, I would save lennox now. Just right now:(

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Lunamoth1917 | Jun 21, 2012, 01:09 AM EDT
I believe it is up to the High Courts.. who have decided OFF with Lennox.. They did not allow a UNBIASED observation of the dog, The DID allow a court appointed person to give their opinion. Who I am sure was on the side of the Belfast Dog Warden, who does not know apparently a aggressive dog from a NON aggressive dog. I wonder if their measurements were correct considering how they say he was aggressive?? There have been hundred who said they would give a UNBIASED opinion... Not allowed said those in control.. Family of the dog NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT THEIR DOG COMPANION..Ignorance is the name of the game. And Turning of the head to look the other way is the game. SHAME TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS. For not having the guts to fix the wrong. Save the Lennox campaign has more likes than even this website and is growing by the minute.. Do you not hear the people of the World..

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wendallsmtih | Jun 18, 2012, 02:25 PM EDT
Apparently no one can get through to the Belfast Council. Worst case scenario, it could allow someone outside the jurisdiction to adopt Lennox. They've even refused to allow that. To avoid perpetuating such nonsense in even the remotest sense, I won't be spending my tourist dollars in Northern Ireland - ever.

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Curitiba | Jun 16, 2012, 08:45 AM EDT
It's a flipping dog we're talking about here, they don't have human rights. It's offensive to compare this situation to opression suffered by Catholics in Northern Ireland's murky past. This is a very British attitude, placing dogs above people.

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ttimmy | Jun 15, 2012, 07:13 PM EDT
Thank you Patrick Roberts for shedding light on Lennox's story and the fight on ending BSL...you are in good company CNN also stepped up to the plate!

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Gil-Ann | Jun 14, 2012, 07:25 PM EDT
VERY EASY WAY TO SOLVE THIS. Relinquish custody of Lennox to Victoria Stilwell, Cesar Milan or all the celebrities that want to help. If you relinquish Lennox, it will save his life, no more fees, just give us the dog. I am in utter disbelief that because of the way this dog looks, you are sentencing him to death. Do you realize how ridiculous this is? Millions of animal lovers all over the EARTH are offering to help Lennox. Let him go....we can take care of him until his family can be reunited with him. Perhaps a fund should be set up to have the family and Lennox moved from Belfast to a place that does not judge you by the way you look. THE ENTIRE EARTH WANTS TO SEE THIS DOG SET FREE. Give it up...let him go. Let this nightmare end with a happy ending. MAKE A WRONG A RIGHT....FREE THIS SWEET BOY ASAP...DON'T LET ANYBODY ELSE SUFFER...LET HIM GO!

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Boxerangel | Jun 14, 2012, 06:11 PM EDT
to all you people being really nasty and negative about lennox and his family...shame on you.... videos dont lie pictures dont lie but clearly your dogwarden does and your expolicedog handler and the BCC .... none are experts atalll in dogs all this was dismissed in court instead they take the word of a dog abusing (this came out in previous court cases involving this man)ex police-dog handler...shame on you all for the lies and the corruption that is clearly in northern ireland.. shameful shameful people..... BCC talk about lennox supporters harrassing their lieing staff its the other way around...you know who you are ...

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SarahJ | Jun 14, 2012, 03:17 PM EDT
Could this writer be any more 'Anti- Northern Ireland' Everyone has and is entitled to their opinions and considering there are thousands the world over I would like to know if they would donate to this womans legal costs rather than taxpayers footing the 21k legal aid bill that could go towards stepping in and saving Syrian children.

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Ritz | Jun 14, 2012, 12:46 PM EDT
Can't there be a ONE YEAR STAY OF EXECUTION, to provide time to prove this dog is harmless. The Barnes' child may never recover from the heartbreak of losing this dog so senselessly.

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Cathy Russell | Jun 14, 2012, 12:33 PM EDT
I do and always have adored dogs. They are more God like than you or I will ever have. Please reconsider what you are going to do to this innocent dog Lennox. He is totally innocent. It's racism. In America there is so much. It's horrible. Please don't punish the dog. This breaks my heart and probably the hearts of thousands if not millions.

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lokionline | Jun 14, 2012, 11:29 AM EDT
A simple grandfather clause would have saved all this nonsense.

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Boxerangel | Jun 14, 2012, 10:09 AM EDT
My word Belfast and the judges..get your heads out of the clouds and think just what you are doing .... this is corruption at the highest level...your heads should roll,your jobs should go..you've committed perjury... you all know lennox is innocent and has never done anything,nor would he..what is wrong with you ppl!!!! one things for sure you will not get away with this if you carry your decision through...there will be uproar worldwide...there all ready is...just what are you ppl teaching children...that its ok to murder an innocent dog just beacuse YOU dont like the way he looks...says a lot about you as ppl.... just bloody shameful an utter utter disgrace ...to the few who choose to be nasty about lennox and his family... god is watching you remember that...no good asking for forgiveness...you wont get it...

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